Unpacking The Mass – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Host: Keith Nester
Episode Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Unpacking the Mass focuses on the readings for the upcoming 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). Keith Nester explores the scriptural theme of choice—our ability and responsibility to choose obedience to God, and how Jesus elevates the understanding of the Law beyond actions to include the attitudes and intentions of our hearts. Keith guides listeners through the readings and offers practical reflections on accountability, grace, and the ongoing call to repentance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Weight of Choice

• [07:12] Keith highlights Sirach’s assertion that “if you will, you can keep the commandments… to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.”
  • Quote:

    “Our choices can't be blamed on anyone or anything else other than ourselves.” (07:40)

• Keith recounts a personal story: a friend whose one choice led to tragedy and lifelong consequences, even after forgiveness—illustrating that some choices have lasting echoes in our lives.

2. Jesus Elevates the Law: Heart and Mind Matter

• [10:50] Keith explains that where the Old Testament focused on behavior, Jesus in Matthew 5 goes beyond actions—he emphasizes the intentions of the heart.
  • Quote:

    “Jesus comes along and he elevates it. He raises the bar to not just what you do with your body, but what you think in your heart. And this is tough, isn’t it?” (11:05)

• Jesus’ teachings about anger, lust, and forgiveness move the focus from deeds to deeper internal realities.
  • E.g., “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment…”

3. Personal Responsibility and Accountability

• [13:22] Keith urges listeners to avoid making excuses in confession or in life, echoing Jesus’ instruction on honesty:
  • Quote:

    “Do you let your answer simply be yes or no? Or do you tell a lot of stories? Do you make a lot of excuses?” (13:35)

• Keith reminds the audience:
  • “We have to take responsibility, my brothers and sisters, for what we do… and what we want to do.” (16:20)

4. Taking Thoughts Captive: The Real Battleground

• [17:10] Keith points out the importance of monitoring not just actions, but inner thoughts:
  • “We do have, by the power of God, the ability to take those thoughts captive.”
  • References Scripture: “Take every thought captive to the knowledge of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5)
• He gives practical examples, such as diffusing anger or refusing to feed lustful thoughts.

5. Grace, Fulfillment of the Law, and Mary’s Unique Role

• [20:01] Jesus fulfills the law perfectly because He is God—by His own power, not His own merit.
  • Quote:

    “Jesus alone has made the right choice… Jesus fulfills the requirements of the law because he is God by his own power.” (21:00)

• Discusses the Blessed Virgin Mary: She received grace to make good choices—so do we, through baptism.

6. We Can Be Forgiven But Must Still Choose Daily

• [23:50] Even after forgiveness, daily life presents ongoing choices—one is never “off the hook.”
  • “Every day we are still faced with choices, aren’t we? Jesus fulfilled the law. He didn’t abolish it… but that doesn’t get us off the hook for how we’re to live.” (24:30)

7. Salvation: An Ongoing Reality Dependent on Choices

• [26:30] Keith challenges a minimalist, “once saved, always saved” view:
  • Quote:

    “Being saved… isn’t something that we step into fully until we’re judged.” (27:00)
    “…the choices that we make come into place.”

• Choices—including turning from God—have eternal consequences.

8. Opportunity for Repentance

• [29:30] As long as there’s life, there is time to turn back, regardless of past sins.
  • Quote:

    “While you still have breath in your lungs, you still have the choice to turn to God.” (29:40)
    “You might say, oh, you don’t know the sin that I’ve committed, Keith. Well, guess what? You don’t know the sin I’ve committed...” (30:20)

9. Small Choices Matter—They Lead to Bigger Ones

• [31:45] Keith gives practical analogies (the cheeseburger story) to show that small, “innocent” choices—like not going to prayer, Bible study, or choosing an unwise environment—set us up for bigger failures later.
  • “Sometimes that choice that seems innocent at the time… will oftentimes lead to a choice to saying no to God in a big way.” (32:20)

10. God’s Grace Makes Right Choices Possible

• [34:15] No temptation is impossible to avoid—God’s grace offers us a way out.
  • Quote:

    “You can follow God. You can do it… God will provide a way of escape for every temptation that comes to us.” (34:30)

11. Letting Your Yes Be Yes: Honesty and Reverence

• [37:10] Practical advice: be honest, revere God, keep faith simple and humble.
  • “Just let your answers be simply yes or no and stand in the reality of that.” (37:25)

12. Mercy is Always Available

• [38:30] When we fail, we have an advocate with God. Keith shares the Jesus Prayer as a way to seek mercy repeatedly:
  • “Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (39:00)

13. Act Now: Don’t Delay Repentance or Reconciliation

• [40:10] “The time to change that is right now… make amends with your accuser while you’re on the way, lest you get handed to the judge.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jesus’ Demands:

  “People think Jesus was some sort of weak, soft…hippie… No, Jesus is terrifying sometimes, isn’t he? Jesus doesn’t leave room for our bad choices.” (11:40)

• On Accountability:

  “We have to take responsibility… not just for what we do, but for the things we want to do.” (16:21)

• On the Consequence of Choices:

  “Even when we’ve been forgiven by God… we still carry that pain, that guilt of the past, because of choices that we make.” (12:50)

• On the Fulfillment of the Law:

  “He [Jesus] didn’t say, nope, that’s not important anymore. He said, you can’t do it, so I will. But that doesn’t get us off the hook for how we’re to live.” (24:32)

• On Salvation:

  “Ultimately our salvation isn’t made real until we walk into heaven, is it? Until we’ve been judged.” (27:05)

• On the World’s Perspective:

  “The world doesn’t get it…the world isn’t who judges us. Ultimately, my friends, it’s God.” (33:25)

Important Timestamps

• [00:01] – Opening prayer and introduction of readings
• [07:12] – Key insight: Choices and accountability in Sirach
• [10:50] – Deep dive into Gospel: Interior demands of Jesus
• [16:20] – On taking responsibility: actions and intentions
• [17:10] – Dealing with thoughts and temptations
• [20:01] – Jesus fulfills the law, but we must still strive
• [26:30] – Nature of salvation and ongoing choices
• [29:30] – The ongoing opportunity for repentance
• [31:45] – The ripple effect of small choices
• [34:15] – Grace: Victory over temptation is possible
• [37:10] – Letting your yes be yes: honesty and reverence
• [38:30] – The Jesus Prayer and assurance of mercy
• [40:10] – Urgency: do not delay repentance

Conclusion & Practical Application

Keith concludes by urging listeners to take responsibility for their choices, both external and internal, and to rely on God’s grace and mercy as they pursue holiness. He encourages immediate action—don’t wait to repent or reconcile, since none of us knows how much time we have.

As Lent approaches, Keith’s message is to be ready to say, “God, have your way in me. Your will be done in my life.” Prepare spiritually by honestly assessing your heart and choosing God daily.

Summary Takeaway:
The gospel calls us to a higher standard: not just actions, but thoughts, intentions, and honesty. We are empowered by grace, but still responsible for the choices we make. Today, choose God—because mercy and transformation are available now.